10.8.15

To visit
what is referred to as “Cinque Terre” was a major reason for our choice of the
place for our summer holidays this year. We have several times passed by,
either on the highways or by train; in both cases you only get some very short
glimpses (especially when the train spends 90% of the trip in tunnels), but these glimpses make
you understand the beauty of the landscape.

This part
of the Italian Riviera has an extremely steep coastline. “Cinque Terre” can be
translated “Five Lands” and refers to the five villages Monterosso al Mare,
Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

You can
reach them by boat or by train. Local trains spend most of their time in
tunnels, tunnels which more or less open only when you reach the local station.
Boat service is of course dependent on weather, the mooring conditions are
mostly very delicate. There is also a theoretical possibility to approach the
villages by car, but this alternative must be avoided especially during the
peak tourist season.

We spent
two full days, using boat as well as train. (One of the villages, Corniglia, on
top of a hill, cannot be reached by boat.)

If you
chose the boat, a normal departure point is La Spezia, a major port and naval
base, with a first stop at Portovenere.

Portovenere has origins from BC and its name seems to refer to a Venus Temple
(or to Saint Venerius). There are some old fortresses, churches, but of course also
some narrow streets with a number of bars and restaurants. The place is also
linked to Lord Byron. A now collapsed “grotto” was the starting point for a very
long swimming tour he made to visit Shelley, near Lerci. (See map below.)

Aiming for
the five “Cinque Terre” villages by boat from Portovenrere, you can admire the
rough coastline, sometimes with terraces and small houses, occupied seasonally
(no electricity, no water…). Wine, olives and pesto are cultivated. … and –
from the sea – you should not forget the anchovies.

Here are
some pictures from the five villages, all charming.

The water
is uniformly crystal clear (heavily protected) and invites bathing, sometimes involving some courage….

7 comments:

I loved the Cinque Terre! We only managed to see 3 of the 5 villages in two days. We stayed in Lerici and also explored that town. At the time of year we were there (in late October), transportation options were limited to the villages, so we didn't see as much as we'd hoped. We will have to return!

Hello Peter , thank you for sharing your fabulous photos . I have been to Liguria but not the Cinque Terra , looks amazing. Definitely on my list. I know I will return to Italy as it is one of my favourite countries. Feel at home there. Take care Anne.

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